A gold, jewelled and enamel mounted smoky quartz Tazza

MARKED FABERG, WORKMASTER MICHAEL PERCHIN, ST. PETERSBURG, 1896-1902, WITH SCRATCHED INVENTORY NUMBER 11952

Details

A gold, jewelled and enamel mounted smoky quartz Tazza
marked Faberg, workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, 1896-1902, with scratched inventory number 11952
In the Renaissance style, the circular domed base on four scallop feet decorated with floral scrolls in translucent red, blue and green, with opaque white enamel, embellished with four raised old-cut diamonds, with similar enamel pellet decoration and dash border, the scroll stem enamelled as a serpent supported by gem-set and enamel rings, surmounted by a scallop-shaped smoky quartz body, marked under base
3in. (8.8cm.) high

Provenance

Leopold de Rothschild, bought from the London branch on 9th July 1912 for 75 pounds, described as: 'Cup; smoky topaz, 8 brill[iant]s; gold & var.[ious] ena[me]ls.

Lot Essay

This small tazza is one of a small number of Renaissance-style objects made by the House of Carl Faberg, all by his master craftsman Michael Perchin, who died in 1902. During his travels in western Europe Carl Faberg became interested in Renaissance objets de vitrine, and in Germany, Italy and France became aware of the influences of historicism on 19th-century applied arts and the work of such craftsmen as Ratzendorfer and Vasters.

For the original design of this Renaissance-style Tazza, see Christie's London, Designs from the House of Faberg, 27 April 1989, lot 408 no.VIII.4.

We are grateful to Mrs Tatiana Faberg for information regarding the provenance of this lot.